Revving up glycolysis

A trio of papers has provided new hints into how best to use small molecule activators of pyruvate kinase M2 isozyme, a cancer metabolism enzyme present nearly universally across tumor types. Based on that research, activating the enzyme might be most effective in tumors with low levels of serine or oxygen.^1-3

Pyruvate kinase occurs as two isoforms: pyruvate kinase M1 isozyme (PKM1) is expressed by most nonproliferative healthy tissues and PKM2 is mainly expressed in cancer cells. Both enzymes catalyze the final step in the energy-producing process of glycolysis...